A HARSH REALITY...

 

Smoky skies surround the Secret Garden on Friday

There are more beautiful places on Planet Earth than not. 

 One of the most beautiful,

 if I may be so bold,

 is California, where we live. 

 But, as in all things good,

 there is the possibility of hidden evils

 and California's 

claim to fame, at this moment, 

is forest fires.

From the kitchen window, 9 AM, Friday

Last Wednesday, 

we were comfortably partaking 

of one of our favorite pastimes, 

watching TV,

 when we noticed

 through partially drawn blinds,

 a menacing sky. 

 We commented on

 how different it looked, 

wondering if there might be

 a thunder storm brewing,

 and then went back to our movie. 

 A few moments later 

our next door neighbor called 

and asked if we were

 ready to evacuate! 

 What?!!

Same view as above, 12 noon

It is hard for me

 to explain the feeling of fear,

 but we all know what it feels like 

when our body first responds to it. 

 

The River Fire first started in a campground near the town of Colfax.  

At the point that we heard about it,

 that town was under 

mandatory evacuation orders.

 ( Those orders have since been lifted).

Where the fire started, just over the other side of those trees 

in far right background. 

Photo taken from our front porch.

As the crow flies,

 we are not much more than 

a half hour drive from Colfax. 

 The conditions were slightly windy 

and we had no idea 

which way the fire was moving.  

The only thing we had heard 

at that point was

 the time it had started, where it started and that it was fast moving. 

 In a matter of just a short time,

 it had burned 1000 acres.

  It was a scary thought 

to go to bed that night, 

although from all accounts, 

we were not included

 in any evacuation orders.

Looking out side kitchen window across street

We awoke on Thursday morning

 to blue skies over the Cottage 

and only a slight amount of smoke

 could be seen in the distance. 

 We were breathing easy as we had just watched on Netflix

 the documentary pertaining to 

the Paradise, California, Camp fire 

from last year 

and had seen how these things 

can change in an instant.

Across street from our front porch

However, Friday morning 

was a different story. 

 Although the fire continues to burn,

 we still remain safe

 and so grateful and thankful,

 but we are being consumed by

 the worst invasion of smoke

 that we have seen so far. 

 The Cottage is an old house, 

and when we did the renovations 

over 30 years ago,

 we wanted to keep 

what was "original" to the structure

 as much as possible. 

 We did not replace most of the windows and we did not tear out 

most of the outside walls, 

therefore there are walls 

that do not have any insulation.  

We have been keeping the doors closed 

as much as possible, 

but the fumes from the smoke

 have invaded our space

 and, frankly, 

it is a bit uncomfortable.

(In the whole scheme of things,
 we can do uncomfortable).

The sun leaves an orange glow over the Secret Garden

Our thoughts are with those 

that are truly affected by all the fires.

  As of Saturday,

 the fire had consumed 2600 acres 

with 88 structures lost and 30% contained.

  Thankfully so far 

there are no lives lost,

 only 3 injuries reported, 

none serious, with one of them

 being a firefighter.  

This part of the country 

and these beautiful forests

 are a draw for people and their animals.  

I can't even imagine 

how horrible it would be

 to have your life and property 

threatened in this way 

and how to deal with it.

The sun, a ball of fire, in the sky

 viewed from the dining room, 8 AM, Saturday

Stay safe everyone and take care. 

 There are threats to the lives

 that we all lead, 

at times and in one way or another, 

and we have to be so careful.

...Judy...

Better times ahead!

UPDATE:

As of yesterday, 

the fire was 68% contained

 with 2,617 acres burned. 

 A huge thank you 

to all the firefighters 

who fought, and are still fighting,

the area's wildfires.

Sharing today with: 

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda